State Secrets 🇨🇦

For centuries, powerful men have used the same defence when under scrutiny: “She’s crazy.” We are watching it happen again in the Luke Sayers scandal, where allegations emerged that his estranged wife was blamed for the explicit image scandal and described to the AFL Integrity Unit as mentally unwell and not taking medication. She has denied both claims. And this is exactly why society needs to become far more critical and psychologically literate about the “crazy woman” narrative. Because once a woman is framed as unstable, suddenly: her credibility is questioned, her distress becomes the story, and the focus shifts away from the man’s behaviour. I know exactly how destructive this is. Twenty years ago, after I was nearly murdered by my partner while he repeatedly smashed my head against a brick wall screaming he was going to kill me, I bit his hand trying to defend myself. I had major head injuries, black eyes and extensive bruising. Yet I was the one charged. He was never charged at all. Instead, police accepted the false narrative that I was the crazy, irrational woman trying to destroy his life. That experience changed the way I understand power, trauma and institutional bias forever. Women are too often judged for the trauma inflicted upon them. Fear becomes “instability.” Distress becomes “hysteria.” Trauma responses become “proof” the woman is unreliable. This has to stop. Because the “crazy woman” defence does not just destroy reputations. It silences victims. It shapes police responses. It influences institutions. And sometimes it determines whether a traumatised woman is believed at all. I wrote about this today. “The ‘Crazy Woman’ Defence Is Still One Of Society’s Most Powerful Weapons.” louiseelizagreene.substack.com/p/the-crazy-wo… #DomesticViolence #CoerciveControl #Trauma #Misogyny #MentalHealth #LukeSayers

Wow. Liberals voted to remove key victim protection provisions from Bill S-205, including electronic monitoring measures intended to warn victims when a violent partner was nearby. Today, families are pleading for exactly those protections. How many more women have to die? ctvnews.ca/vancouver/vide… @RaquelDancho @FrankCaputoKTN #IPV @MercedesGlobal @SenatBoisvenu This video is from Feb 2024 ⬇️⬇️

@Kristina4BC You left out a lot of info. What support did Bailey McCourt have to write a victim impact statement? Was she registered with the Victim Safety Unit? Did she have a Victim Support Worker? Was she involved with the @KelownaRCMP & EFry Domestic Violence Unit? Who failed her? Bcpoli

@Kristina4BC How is GPS monitoring an effective safety plan for each individual woman? It's not evidence based & definitely not better than yesterday. Amplifying victims voices. @NinaKriegerBC is also responsible for the CSVA program in BC that's failing to keep women safe & alive. Bcpoli

Mission Accomplished! Today I amplified the voices of the families of Bailey McCourt and the friends of Laura Gover. And we achieved a meeting with a minister and an openness to GPS monitoring!! Its better than yesterday! Push to protect intimate partner violence victims – CTVNews share.google/WASuPpfoxvEO9g…

@Kristina4BC A Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) should have prevented both women's deaths. Did you press AG @NikiSharma2 for areview on DVUs? In her report, Kim Stanton misspoke for survivors & did not conduct an independent review on DVUs in BC. Victims were not consulted. Why? Bcpoli

Mission Accomplished! Today I amplified the voices of the families of Bailey McCourt and the friends of Laura Gover. And we achieved a meeting with a minister and an openness to GPS monitoring!! Its better than yesterday! Push to protect intimate partner violence victims – CTVNews share.google/WASuPpfoxvEO9g…

Les images de pendaisons simulées lors d’une manifestation à Montréal sont complètement inacceptables. Ce genre de geste n’a pas sa place dans notre société. Le @SPVM confirme qu’une enquête est en cours par le module des crimes haineux.